US3237781A - Outrigger counterbalance for cranes - Google Patents

Outrigger counterbalance for cranes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3237781A
US3237781A US361990A US36199064A US3237781A US 3237781 A US3237781 A US 3237781A US 361990 A US361990 A US 361990A US 36199064 A US36199064 A US 36199064A US 3237781 A US3237781 A US 3237781A
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United States
Prior art keywords
crane
vehicle
counterweight
load platform
trailer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US361990A
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English (en)
Inventor
Heigl Georg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WILHELM REICH Firma
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WILHELM REICH Firma
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Publication of US3237781A publication Critical patent/US3237781A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
    • B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
    • B66C23/36—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
    • B66C23/62—Constructional features or details
    • B66C23/72—Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples
    • B66C23/78—Supports, e.g. outriggers, for mobile cranes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C2700/00—Cranes
    • B66C2700/03—Cranes with arms or jibs; Multiple cranes
    • B66C2700/0321—Travelling cranes
    • B66C2700/0357—Cranes on road or off-road vehicles, on trailers or towed vehicles; Cranes on wheels or crane-trucks
    • B66C2700/0364—Cranes on road or off-road vehicles, on trailers or towed vehicles; Cranes on wheels or crane-trucks with a slewing arm
    • B66C2700/0371—Cranes on road or off-road vehicles, on trailers or towed vehicles; Cranes on wheels or crane-trucks with a slewing arm on a turntable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C2700/00—Cranes
    • B66C2700/03—Cranes with arms or jibs; Multiple cranes
    • B66C2700/0321—Travelling cranes
    • B66C2700/0357—Cranes on road or off-road vehicles, on trailers or towed vehicles; Cranes on wheels or crane-trucks
    • B66C2700/0378—Construction details related to the travelling, to the supporting of the crane or to the blocking of the axles; Outriggers; Coupling of the travelling mechamism to the crane mechanism

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a vehicle crane having a crane base that is located revolvably on the load platform of a vehicle, particularly a self-propelled one including front and rear axle assemblies, to which base is joined a crane tower and/ or crane boom.
  • the invention more particularly relates to a vehicle crane of the type described including a counterweight arm which is retracted during transportation and which in work position extends transversely from the load platform and also is secured against a displacement in a vertical direction relative to the load platform, with its outer end bearing a counterweight.
  • the efficiency of such, a vehicle crane, i.e., its lifting power at a certain maximal extension, is limited by its stability.
  • the counterweight on the counterweight arm is supposed to compensate, at least to some extent, for the toppling moment originating with the load and transferred by the boom and thus increase the stability.
  • the counter force attainable with the counterweight depends on the length of the counterweight arm.
  • the counterweight arm is comprised of telescoping parts and located on the crane base.
  • the counterweight is attached to the extended counterweight arm by means of an auxiliary crane.
  • the maximal length of the counterweight arm is only approximately half the length of the vehicle frame, so that the attainable counter force remains small.
  • a longer construction is out of the question for the reason that the telescoping parts would have too great a diameter.
  • Another disadvantage of this known vehicle crane lies in the necessity of providing an auxiliary crane, since the counterweight can no longer remain on the counterweight arm after it is retracted.
  • the counterweight arm of the known vehicle crane when in work position, constitutes a crane supporter which continuously transfers a counterforce of constant size to the vehicle.
  • the magnitude of the usable counterweight is also limited by the fact that in the case of a toppling moment being reduced to zero the counter moment should not be too great.
  • a portable crane is also known where the crane itself is constructed as a one-axle trailer which is supported against the ground by telescope-like supporting legs.
  • the crane is equipped with an arm which at its free end is connected with an also one-axle saddle tractor by means of a revolvable bed.
  • the legs When the vehicle is to be transported, the legs are pulled in so that the crane and the tractor represent an ordinary two-axle tractor-trailer arrangement.
  • the supporting legs In the work position of the crane, the supporting legs are extended to the point where the tractor is lifted up and suspended from the arm of the crane to constitute a counterweight.
  • the counterweight formed by the tractor must be so constituted that the unengaged crane cannot topple under the weight of the counterweight. This limits the size of the counterweight.
  • a crane vehicle is also known where the crane base resting revolvably on the load platform is extended beyond the load platform.
  • the extended section is supported against the ground by an adjustable wheel arrangement and contains a counterweight.
  • the length of the lever arm on which the counterweight operates is here relatively small.
  • the decisive disadvantage of this type of vehicle consists of the fact that the part carrying the counterweight is joined to the crane base and thus must participate in its movements. This means that the swivel angle of the crane base will be restricted, because the extended part of the crane base cannot be swung over the load platform, because the downwardly projecting wheel arrangement would interfere with the load platform.
  • there is a considerable increase in the total length of the vehicle during the transport by virtue of the sector of the crane base projecting toward the rear.
  • a non-revolving gallows-like crane tower rises from the rear end of the load platform.
  • a pivotable counterweight Joined around a horizontal axis at the front end of the vehicle is a pivotable counterweight which is connected with the top of the crane tower by means of cables and is supported against the ground by a wheel arrangement when idle. In its working position, the counterweight is lifted from the ground.
  • This vehicle crane does not have a revolving crane base, which means that it can be used substantially only for dragging-off operations.
  • a revolving railroad crane is also known.
  • This portable crane when in transport position, pulls a counterweight in form of a one-axle trailer after it.
  • the counterweight trailer In work position, the counterweight trailer is flapped up and joined solidly with the crane base. In this case, the length of the counter arm is extraordinarily small. Also, the counterweight constantly creates a counter moment which should not be too great. Supporting brackets are provided for the raiiroad crane also, which in work position are extended and prevent any movement of the crane.
  • supporting arms are provided which can be extended from the load platform transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. These arms are equipped at their free ends with support legs which in work position rest on the ground. These arms can be made no longer than the load platform is wide. Also, the disadvantage that the crane cannot be moved when under load is again present.
  • a vehicle crane having a frame to which it is possible to attach additional bridge segments which extend sideways therefrom.
  • Such segments act as counterweights and form additional supports for the crane base.
  • the distance of the centers of gravity of these segments from the vehicle frame is relatively small. Also, these segments must be transported separately from the remainder of the vehicle crane.
  • the present invention accomplishes this by constructing the counterweight arm as a pull bar vehicle or trailer whose bar rests in transport position in longitudinal alignment with and over a considerable part of the load platform and is pivotably connected to the load platform for movement about a vertical axis therethrough. In work position, the portion of the arm including the counterweight rests on the ground by means of a known wheel arrangement.
  • the counterweight arm may be made of considerable length since the length of the trailer is limited only by the length of the load platform. Actually it would be possible to make the trailer even longer than the length of the load platform. The length of the trailer would be limited only by the length limitation for vehicles in street traflic. In the work position of the vehicle crane, the trailer extends transversely from the load platform and rests with its outboard end on the ground. Thus, on the one hand a great counter moment can be attained, but on the other hand there is no danger that the counter moment is greater than the toppling moment in the case of lack of load.
  • the trailer can be bedded on the load platform in such a manner that the Wheels of the trail-er in transport position do not touch the ground.
  • the means fixing the pivot end of the trailer to the vehicle may be set to allow pivotal movement of the trailer about a horizontal axis.
  • the trailer can be pulled completely onto the load platform so that the maneuverability of the vehicle crane is not handicapped in any manner.
  • the crane base is furthermore resting in a known manner on the load platform and can be moved in longitudinally of the vehicle, i.e., from a transport position, where the center of gravity of the crane base lies closer to the front axle assembly than to the rear axle assembly, into a work position, where the center of gravity is approximately in the middle between the two axle assemblies of the vehicle, and vice versa, and the pivoted end of the trailer is connected with the crane base.
  • the center of gravity of the crane base when the construction is in transport position, the center of gravity of the crane base is closer to the front axle assembly, so that said front axle assembly bears a greater part of the crane weight than the rear axle assembly.
  • the crane base In the work position, when the counterweight does not bear down upon the axle assemblies of the vehicle, the crane base will be approximately in the middle between the axle assemblies, so that said axle assemblies are again subjected to an approximately uniform load.
  • the shiftability of the crane base also has the advantage that in spite of a relatively long load platform which guarantees a good stability under load, the total length of the vehicle in transport position is not too great.
  • the wheel assembly of the trailer can be steered and driven in a known manner. Further-more, the vehicle front and the rear axle assemblies, respectively, can also be driven or steered in a familiar manner. Thus the trailer as Well as the crane vehicle can easily be maneuvered into position with regard to'each other. In addition, it
  • the counterweight is not formed by dead ballast, it is contemplated that it constitute a generator for producing current to power the crane.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the vehicle crane according to the present invention in transport position.
  • FIGURE 2 is a top view of a vehicle crane according to FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the vehicle crane in an intermediate position between transport and work positions.
  • FIGURE 4 is a top view of the crane in work position.
  • FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the vehicle crane in work position.
  • FIGURE 6 is a top view of the vehicle crane of FIG- URE 5.
  • 1 constitutes a self-propelled vehicle with load platform 2.
  • Platform 2 rests upon front axle assembly 3 and rear axle assembly 4. The number of axles may vary. Both axle assemblies may be steerable and driveable.
  • the cab of vehicle 1 is indicated as 5.
  • Resting upon load platform 2 is a crane base 6 of the usual kind, which in the example includes crane operator cab 7, ballast 8 and pulleys 9.
  • Joined to the crane base, swivelable around horizontal axis 11, is crane boom it Instead of a boom, a crane tower with or without boom or a boom with one or several auxiliary booms could be provided. It is not of importance for the invention how the crane base, the crane tower or crane boom, respectively, are constructed.
  • a counterweight arm which according to the present invention is constructed as trailer 13.
  • Trailer 13 is equipped with a bar 14 which is very stiff with regard to bending and torsion and whose length preferably approximately corresponds to the length of load platform 2.
  • Bar 14 is connected with the vehicle by means of horizontal swivel axis 15.
  • axis 15 passes through the crane axis and therefore is rotatable around vertical axis 12.
  • the trailer 13 carries a counterweight 16 which could function as a generator producing current to power the crane.
  • trailer 13 is equipped at its free end with an axle assembly 17 which bears wheels 18.
  • crane base 6 can be shifted from its transport position according to FIG- URES 1 and 2 into a work position according to FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5, for which purpose it can be arranged on a carriage movable, for example, hydraulically or by cable pull along load platform 2.
  • the crane base 6 is shifted from its transport position close to the opera tor cab 5 towards the rear, with its center of gravity in the work position lying about in the center between the axle assemblies 3 and 4.
  • the trailer 13 connected with crane base 6 by means of horizontal swivel axis 15 is also shifted toward the rear, so that its wheels 18 touch the ground. This position is visible in FIGURE 3.
  • bar 14 Before boom is put into work position and before loads are carried by it, bar 14 is rigidly connected to load platform 2 by bolts 30 which extend through brackets 31 which are hingedly mounted on said platform so that neither swivelling around horizontal axis 15 nor any axis perpendicular thereto is possible. A swiveling of bar 14 around vertical axis 12 may also be prevented by for example attaching bars 22. The vehicle crane is now in work position.
  • FIGURE 6 where for reasons of clarity the crane base 6 has been omitted, indicates that upon turning axle assembly 17 into a position where wheels 18 are located as shown by the broken lines, a turning of the vehicle in the direction of the dot-line arcs is possible.
  • the vehicle can also be moved longitudinally.
  • the crane according to the present invention can lift great loads at great distance because of the very long counterweight arm. Since the arm protrudes on only one side, the other side is completely free for working. This is completely satisfactory for ordinary crane operations.
  • the invention is based on the general idea to employ a counterweight arm which in a transport position stretches almost over the entire length of the vehicle and in a Working position rests on the ground with that end which is away from the vehicle. Thus it is simultaneously a carrier of the counterweight and a support arm.
  • a vehicle crane comprising a crane base pivotally mounted on the load platform of a vehicle having front and rear axle assemblies, particularly .a motor-driven vehicle, to which base is joined a crane tower and/ or crane boom, and with a counterweight arm which in a transport position is generally parallel to the lengthwise extent of said load platform and in a work position extends transversely to said load platform, and which is then secured against movements in a vertical direction with respect to said load platform and at its outer end bears a counterweight, said counterweight arm comprising:
  • trailer means having a pull-bar pivotable around a vertical axis adjacent the inner end thereof, which trailer means in transport position rests upon and extends over the load platform to a considerable extent, said trailer means including a wheel assembly in the area of the counterweight which in the work position rests on the ground.
  • a crane construction comprising:
  • an upstanding crane base mounted on said load platform for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis;

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Jib Cranes (AREA)
US361990A 1963-04-26 1964-04-23 Outrigger counterbalance for cranes Expired - Lifetime US3237781A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEM56623A DE1183217B (de) 1963-04-26 1963-04-26 Fahrzeugkran

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Publication Number Publication Date
US3237781A true US3237781A (en) 1966-03-01

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US361990A Expired - Lifetime US3237781A (en) 1963-04-26 1964-04-23 Outrigger counterbalance for cranes

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US (1) US3237781A (de)
DE (1) DE1183217B (de)
GB (1) GB996690A (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3362544A (en) * 1965-04-29 1968-01-09 Beteiligungs & Patentverw Gmbh Wheel-supported heavy load crane
US4147262A (en) * 1976-06-29 1979-04-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho Excavating and loading machine mounted on a wheeled type vehicle
US6065621A (en) * 1997-10-03 2000-05-23 Fatemi; Ray Portable and towable lift mechanism
US20130119007A1 (en) * 2010-06-23 2013-05-16 Patrick Kramer Vehicle for transporting ballast weights
WO2018049475A1 (en) * 2016-09-15 2018-03-22 Terex Australia Pty Ltd Crane counterweight and suspension

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1246969B (de) * 1965-09-17 1967-08-10 Beteiligungs & Patentverw Gmbh Autokran, insbesondere fuer den Fertighausbau
GB1203920A (en) * 1968-10-15 1970-09-03 American Hoist & Derrick Co Improvements in or relating to load lifting equipment
DE2438439A1 (de) * 1974-08-09 1976-02-19 Riggers Mfg Co Kran
DE2908237C2 (de) * 1979-03-02 1982-06-16 Leo Gottwald KG, 4000 Düsseldorf Mobiler Drehkran
US4258852A (en) * 1979-05-25 1981-03-31 Harnischfeger Corporation Auxiliary counterweight arrangement for mobile crane
US4601402A (en) * 1980-03-07 1986-07-22 The Manitowoc Company, Inc. Steerable concentric ring segment supported lift crane
IT1284449B1 (it) * 1996-06-27 1998-05-21 Gelco Di Corradi Franco Gru per edilizia a rotazione in basso, a elevata manovrabilita'

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2891681A (en) * 1956-12-05 1959-06-23 Caterpillar Tractor Co Rotatable counterweight mechanism
US2893502A (en) * 1955-02-18 1959-07-07 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag Vehicle with motor mounted on swingable arm
US2957592A (en) * 1958-07-21 1960-10-25 Ernest K Thacker Attachment device for heavy duty cranes
US2986407A (en) * 1960-04-21 1961-05-30 Owen A Krueger Apparatus for reducing the loading on the load supporting axles of a truck mounted vehicle
US3125352A (en) * 1961-02-15 1964-03-17 Collapsible strut
US3160284A (en) * 1963-02-01 1964-12-08 Beloit Corp Weight stabilizing load handling machine

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE618521C (de) * 1935-09-10 Mohr & Federhaff Ag Drehkran, insbesondere Eisenbahndrehkran
GB311533A (en) * 1928-04-21 1929-05-16 Brooke Hodgson Improvements in or relating to breakdown cranes and the like
FR1050634A (fr) * 1952-02-08 1954-01-08 Dispositif compensateur formant contrepoids adaptable aux appareils de levage mobiles montés sur camions, autos ou autres
DE1026499B (de) * 1956-09-01 1958-03-20 Krupp Ardelt Gmbh Fahrbarer Kran mit Sattelschlepper
DE1091304B (de) * 1957-10-12 1960-10-20 Krupp Ardelt Gmbh Fahrbarer Kran mit Sattelschlepper
DE1138906B (de) * 1959-12-24 1962-10-31 Christian Hermann Fahrzeugkran

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2893502A (en) * 1955-02-18 1959-07-07 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag Vehicle with motor mounted on swingable arm
US2891681A (en) * 1956-12-05 1959-06-23 Caterpillar Tractor Co Rotatable counterweight mechanism
US2957592A (en) * 1958-07-21 1960-10-25 Ernest K Thacker Attachment device for heavy duty cranes
US2986407A (en) * 1960-04-21 1961-05-30 Owen A Krueger Apparatus for reducing the loading on the load supporting axles of a truck mounted vehicle
US3125352A (en) * 1961-02-15 1964-03-17 Collapsible strut
US3160284A (en) * 1963-02-01 1964-12-08 Beloit Corp Weight stabilizing load handling machine

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3362544A (en) * 1965-04-29 1968-01-09 Beteiligungs & Patentverw Gmbh Wheel-supported heavy load crane
US4147262A (en) * 1976-06-29 1979-04-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho Excavating and loading machine mounted on a wheeled type vehicle
US6065621A (en) * 1997-10-03 2000-05-23 Fatemi; Ray Portable and towable lift mechanism
US20130119007A1 (en) * 2010-06-23 2013-05-16 Patrick Kramer Vehicle for transporting ballast weights
AU2011269306B2 (en) * 2010-06-23 2015-02-05 Patrick Kramer Vehicle for transporting ballast weights
US9061625B2 (en) * 2010-06-23 2015-06-23 Patrick Kramer Vehicle for transporting ballast weights
WO2018049475A1 (en) * 2016-09-15 2018-03-22 Terex Australia Pty Ltd Crane counterweight and suspension
US10710849B2 (en) 2016-09-15 2020-07-14 Terex Australia Pty Ltd Crane counterweight and suspension
US11447374B2 (en) 2016-09-15 2022-09-20 Terex Australia Pty Ltd Crane counterweight and suspension

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Publication number Publication date
DE1183217B (de) 1964-12-10
GB996690A (en) 1965-06-30

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